Qurʾān Translation and Commentary: An Uncharted Relationship?

Abstract

Qurʾān translation, as of any text, necessarily involves exegetical interventions. Yet there remains a critical dis- tinction between these two modes of textual engagement. This paper explores the relationship between the imita- tive act of translation and the explicatory act of exegesis. It investigates the extent to which translators graft their exegetical projects onto their translation attempts. The paper first addresses the issue of Qurʾān translatabil- ity, recognizes the often uncertain boundaries between translation and exegesis, and then provides an historical overview of Qurʾān translation-cum-exegesis.